Subtop construction for ice cream cabinets



Dec. 16, 1941. v s. B. WARD 2,266,493 SUBTOP CONSTRUCTION FOR ICE CREAM CABINETS Filed June-s, 1939 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 SUBTOP CONSTRUCTIONFOR ICE CREAM CABINETS Samuel B Ward, Chester-Heights, Pa., assignor to H. H. Ward Company, Chester, Pa., a corporation of, Pennsylvania ApplioationJune 3,1939, Serial 'No.-277,19o

I ing a flange on the free end of the outer lamina- .6 Claims.

My invention relates to a sleeve and plate assembly designed and adapted for use inth e' sub tops of ice cream cabinets and my leading objects are to provide an improved laminated thimble or sleeve for the sub-top opening and a better connection between such thimble and the reenforcing plate by which it is supported and which forms a guard for the insulating members of the sub-top.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the thimble or sleeve comprises a radially flanged collar with an integral flanged cuff thereon and is made by bending a metallic folded sheet to form concentric tubular laminations or rings and spinning thereon radially projecting edge sections or flanges spaced sufficiently to provide a seat for the reception of a reenforcing plate disposed transversely to the axis of the sleeve. The opposite end of the sleeve, adjacent to the bight or fold of the sheet, may be flared outwardly to form a smooth-edged lip for engaging the lining of the sub-top opening and spacing the body of the thimble therefrom.

The centering of the thimble in the sub-top opening and the mounting of the plate on the sub-top are facilitated by making the hole in the reenforcing plate of larger diameter than the external face of the inner ring of the sleeve, but of smaller diameter than the overall diameter of either of the sleeve flanges, so as to permit radial play between sleeve and plate without danger of disengagement of one from the other.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will further appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing in illustration thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of an ice cream cabinet having my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached fragmentary view of a sleeve and plate embodying my invention during the course of manufacture into an assembly or unit; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached fragmentary view of my improved sleeve and plate assembly.

In accordance with my invention, a folded sheet of material of suitable width and length has an annular curvature and forms a sleeve composed of an inner ring or tubular lamination l and an outer ring or tubular lamination 2 concentric with the ring I and integrally connected therewith by the bight or bend 3. The sleeve is preferably formed by folding a strip of. flat material upon itself and bending the folded strip tion and flaring outwardly the bight section of the sleeve being formed. A projecting piece at one end of the inner lamination is inserted between the laminations at the opposite endiof the curved strip and soldered in place. But; if desired, a tube formed in any suitable manner may be partially split and bent upon itself or telescoped rings may be Welded or otherwise secured together along their edges.

The ring sections I and 2 adjacent to the bight 3 are preferably flared outwardly to form a bell-mouthed lip having a smooth upper edge. The flaring of the lip may be efiected by bending the sections l and 2 before the folded blank is bent to ring form or by spinning after the sleeve formed.

The lower section of the ring 2 is spun outwardly to form a radial flange 4. The annular lower section of the ring I is passed through an aperture 5 in a plate 6 and is then spun over to form a radial flange 1 parallel with the flange 4 and so spaced therefrom that the plate makes a close slip fit with the seat formed by the flanges.

The diameter of the annular hole 5 is less than the over-all width of either flange 4 or I but is greater than the diameter of the body of the ring I so as to permit limited radial movement of the sleeve and plate relatively to one another.

The sleeve-and-plate assembly so constructed is adapted for application to the sub-top of an ice cream cabinet by centering the sleeve in the aperture 8 of an insulating member 9 so that the lip of the sleeve engages the annular rubber lining [0 of the aperture 8 and the edge of the lining rests on the flange 4. The plate 6 is then adjusted radially-to desired position and connected with the insulating member 9 in any suitable manner.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A refrigerator cabinet having an insulating sub-top containing an aperture with a thimble therein comprising a. closely laminated sleeve comprising a sheet bent upon itself and having 5 its free ends bent outwardly from the periphery a sheet bent upon itself and forming a flaring lip section, adjacent to the bight of the sheet and to ring form while turning outward and stretchsections of said sheet projecting radially outward from the periphery of the sleeve to form spaced flanges at the end of said sleeve opposite said lip a portion of said sleeve between said lip section and flanges being spaced from the wall of said sub-top aperture and at least one of said flanges covering the space between said portion and wall.

3. A refrigerator cabinet having an insulating sub-top containing an aperture with a thimble therein comprising a sleeve comprising integral concentric tubular laminations having outwardly extending radially projecting adjacent sections, and a plate surrounding said sleeve and having a flat edge section housed between said radial sections, said plate projecting beneath said subtop adjacent the edge of said sub-top aperture.

4. A refrigerator cabinet having an insulating sub-top containing an aperture with a thimble therein comprising a sleeve comprising tubular laminations having radially outward projecting adjacent sections forming a seat, and an apertured plate projecting radially from said collar and movable radially in said seat to permit the centering of said thimble in said sub-top aperture, said plate containing an aperture larger than the inner lamina of said sleeve but v smaller than either of said radial projections.

5. A refrigerator sub-top comprising an insulating member containing an aperture, a lining for said aperture, a thimble in said aperture and comprising a closely laminated integral sheet forming a flaring lip at one end of said thimble and engaging the surface of said lining and radial flanges formed by the free ends of the laminations at the other end of said thimble, said lining having an edge resting on one of said flanges, and an apertured plate having an inner edge section disposed between said flanges, said plate being connected with said member and supporting said thimble.

6. A refrigerator cabinet having an insulating sub-top containing an aperture with a thimble therein comprising a sleeve and plate assembly composed of a fiat strip bent over upon itself and curved to laminated ring form, the outer lamination having an outwardly turned stretched flange thereon, and an apertured flat plate through which the inner lamination extends, said inner lamination having a flange spun outwardly thereon against said plate.

SAMUEL B. WARD. 

